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Chancellor's Speeches

USM Chancellor William E. Kirwan's Statement

at Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s FY 2007

Higher Education Budget News Conference

January 3, 2006

Governor Ehrlich, let me begin by thanking you profoundly on behalf of the entire higher education community for the extraordinary investment you are making in Maryland's higher education's institutions and in our state's future.

Gathered with us today, for what I believe to be an historic occasion, are many members of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, the presidents of our 13 institutions, and higher education leaders from around the state.

Governor Ehrlich, you have kept your commitment. You asked us to demonstrate our willingness to becoming more cost effective and cost conscious stewards of public funds. This we have done and continue to do through our Board of Regents-led Effectiveness and Efficiency Initiatives. You said that if we did this, if you were convinced that state funds would be employed to maximum benefit for the citizens of the state, you would reinvest in higher education. As you know, we have documented more that $40 million dollars of cost containment and cost reductions actions over the past two years.

True to your word, and after successfully battling through difficult fiscal times, you have announced today a dramatic increase in higher education funding. Before discussing the impact of your 2006-07 budget for higher education, I do want to say that even in the difficult fiscal times, we benefited from your commitment to higher education. You found ways to help students by making an extraordinary investment in need-based financial aid. And, you helped the USM by sponsoring legislation to give us greater operational autonomy and by making strategic allocations to support our facilities needs. For all of this support in the past, we are deeply grateful

But, we are here today to talk about the future, your 2006-07 budget. Two aspects of this budget are especially impressive. First and most obvious is the magnitude of the increase, which I predict will be the largest percentage increase for public higher education in the nation and which brings USM state funding to the highest point in its history.

Equally impressive is the exceptionally thoughtful and strategic way the budget has been put together to address important state needs.

Specifically, your actions will:

That is a remarkable list of accomplishments for a single budget. But, there is a second aspect of this budget that deserves note. At a time when national report after national report bemoans the decline of state investment in higher education around the country and the threat this poses for the U.S.'s continued leadership in the global economy, you are making a powerful statement with this budget. You are saying that:

This budget positions Maryland for success tomorrow and in the years to come. It deserves support from all who care about our state's future.

Finally Governor, I want to thank your very talented team of professionals who have worked so closely with us on the development of this budget: Cecelia. Januszkiewicz and her staff in the Department of Budget Management, Craig Williams, and Chip DiPaula. They have listened, probed, challenged and supported us in remarkable ways throughout the budget development process.

We thank you and them for making this historic day possible.

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